Sustainability Technology & The Evolution of Smart Cities

The World’s Saviors, SUPERCHARGED Plants!

CO2 is one of the largest contributors to global warming, representing over two-thirds of all greenhouse gas emissions yearly. Industrialization and our penchant for over-consumption has drastically increased the output of this gas. Global warming, does and will continue to wreak havoc on our ecosystems. The rising of sea levels, desertification, severe weather, and increase in ocean acidity, negatively impact the life forms on our planet.

As we continue burning fossil fuels and cutting down forests, our ability to balance out the levels of carbon in the atmosphere drops considerably. The planet’s carbon filtration system (i.e. plants and soil) which can convert CO2 into oxygen, can’t keep up with the rate of human CO2 production. But the major question is, what can we do to reduce current carbon emissions?

Sustainability Technology: Supercharged Plants

While many people, companies, and countries are looking to reduce their CO2 footprint, the methods/plans in place to do so are more long-term. Currently, the Earth’s natural filtration system, plants, only suck up about 25% of our carbon emissions to produce their own fuel during photosynthesis. But unfortunately, it’s a slow and inefficient process. However, with the help of science, this natural method can be enhanced dramatically to bring forth a more effective and immediate solution to such a pressing problem.

Scientists at the Max Planck Institute in Germany have found a way to supercharge plants to increase their CO2 absorbing rate. The team, led by Tobias Erb, identified 17 enzymes from nine different organisms. They re-engineered some of them to produce a new 11-step system that effectively recreates and enhances the Calvin Cycle. Plants that had their biology synthetically altered actually acquired the ability to consume carbon at a much higher rate than their ordinary counterparts.

To put things into perspective, the controlled plant group consumed about 5-10 molecules of CO2 per second, while the test group could consume about 80 molecules per second! This increase in plant efficiency can do wonders at combating our climate change problem and that too in a less invasive manner. A by-product of this effective photosynthesis process, is that plants will also grow faster, which can be a boon for farmers and more importantly a alternative solution to the world’s food demand.

While this technology has only been tested in labs, a positive real-world test result can be the breakthrough we all have been looking for. If this technology proves to be successful, it can be scaled up and applied in a multitude of places.

Introduce this synthetic biology in plants outside the lab. Run tests on various forms of plant life, to determine which species thrive on and successfully perform with the new enhanced Calvin Cycle process.

Put together studies of findings to share with the scientific/business/government groups. Do a pilot program with each group so see how this bio-engineering technology performs in different environments.

Upon proven success, seek support to implement this it in areas of major concern (i.e. cities, manufacturing plants, waste processing plants, farmlands, etc.). Continue the monitoring and feedback mechanism to ensure that the process doesn’t break down or lose efficiency.

By: Bhoomi Shah UNI: brs2147

Comment on “Plastic Bottle Concrete” by MARIGSKO

The up-cycling plastic and mixing it with cement to form concrete, is a very innovative way to kill three birds with one stone: (1) reduces plastic waste from landfills and oceans, (2) decreases the amount of cement needed – reducing CO2 emissions, and (3) makes the concrete stronger. Plastic, something that takes over 400 years to degrade, can be used in a better more effective way. I think it’s a great idea if it can be adopted on a global scale.